Label moistening and/or gumming device



April-11, 1950 A. l. VOORHIES 2,503,694

LABEL MOISTENING AND/OR GUMMING DEVICE Filed Sept. 17, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 k 9 INVENTOR. J AUSTIN LVOORHIES,

BY Q %a" )1 7 A TTORNE).

p 11, 1950 A. I. VOORHIES 2,503,694

LABEL MOISTENING AND/OR GUMMQING DEVICE Filed Sept. 17, 1948 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

- ,4 AUSTIN 'LVOORHIES,

4 rill 4 BY s r AT TORNE Y Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED ,s.rAr;-Es

F F l LABEL MOISTENING 'AND/ OR GUMMING DEVICE Austin]. Voorhies,;Miami, Fla.

Application September 1 2 Claims.

--:label through the-machine without adhering to reither the-feeder to the applicator roller.

-A further object of the invention resides in a moisture or adhesiveapplicator for labels or the like comprising a pair of contacting rollers for .the combined feeding and application of moisture or adhesive to the underside of labels, etc., with :a supporting runway of wires calculated to sup- :port the label after moistening and facilitating the removal thereof after moistening, together with suitable guards to prevent the label from following the rollers during its passage through the machine.

Another and important object of the invention is the extreme simplicity and 'efficienoy of the device, constructed in a manner calculated to -minimize the cost thereof, possesses few and simple parts requiring very little attention, may be quickly and conveniently disassembled for cleaning and will completely apply a coating of moisture or adhesive to the underside of a label or .:the like and project .the said label :to a position '33 for convenient removal.

Other: and important objects of the invention 'z-will be readily apparent during the course of the "following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l isa side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof,

-. Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of. Figure 2,

'1. Figure 5 is a transverse sectionv taken on 5 5--5'-of.Figu're 1 and,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section "taken on line 6.& of Figure. 4.

Like numerals..;are employed to designate like :vparts"nthroughoutzlthe .nsseveral figures of the ,1: drawings.

'-.- Referring--ispecificallyzto the .drawings, .=the

line

nnumeraladesignates a basahaving cor-hen legs 6;:

. providedtwi'th -pads 1. *Preferably formed integral swith ithe basei 5; are'oppositelyi arranged-.rpara-llel side; plates .8,11fiush' with the outer longitudinal edge of the. baseand parallel therewith. ".ZEhe

5 plates- Bzarervertically arranged and transverse upstanding walls; 9, integral with the p-latesiand uthevba'se,"formaafluid. reservoir 15, 'adaptedsto rcontain Water or. adhesive. T An: applicatorroller H, preferably tubular, has ashaft l2, journalled 10.J in :the :plates 8-,; extending atone end 'for :the -re- "ception ofeadrivengear 1.3. f'As'clearly showmin FigureskB and 5,'.the:roller ;l l hasitsvouter surface .7 knurled. A combined; feed-and pressure-roller 1.4;corresporidingin size to the roller I [is superimposed in parallel relation above the roller; 4 I,

having: contact therewith and: rprovided @with: a 1; shaft 15,, journalled'in the; plates 8. The ishaftzl 5 :is oo-extensive with the shaft 2- and :carries? a ':drive; gearifi, meshing with the gear [3. :-A crank 20. arm. .ILIis' employed :to'rotate: zthe shafta'lSaafor -turning therollerdt in a clock-wiseadirect-ion, "While themeshing of'the gears 45 and 13; causes .--the:rol1er l l 'to turn ini acounter-clockwisedirecmtiOIl. .The-=-=surface;; ofv the roller I4 is, preferably formed smooth. The shaft I5 of the roller -lkhas zabeen illustrated ramming rotatably supported in oopennslots of the plates 8,: :for:-=ease;ofvremova1 and to permit -full; gravity engagement -with :the vroller .1 I throughout'its length, 'but.it-:-Will.:-:be .2 obvious that the shaft may be journal'led inr any .rother. convenient manner. The rollers, H andrll mare-held I'lll spaced relation-to the plates 8;;ioy "Washers. .18 "to avoidirictionalcontact -of-:-=the rollers with the, plates. J Meansaare provided to-properly feed the'lahels v:or .Lthe :likeix through the machine, comprising: a ifs-plurality of" spaced parallel'wi-res- [9, extending rdorzthezfulliength rof'the machine. The: wiresid 9, at the right end of the machine are detachably msupported-innotches:28 in across rib 2 1,- formed upon a vertical transverse plate 22, int egral"with the base 5. .zThe plate 22' is; provided with-nan integral flat-gincli-ned table 23, the free end-of -.-which terminates: adjacent the contacting :points of the. rollers ,I hand I 4. :The ireslQlpass-bertweenithemollers Ill and M -andhave their opporqsizteaterminal; ends detachably seated in notches 1 Zllrformeddn: :ri'bs =25, formed integral -,-with-;an .-,upstandingtransversely arrangedplate 2 8. -The J--Wires :19 are inclined in parallel relation throughwout; theirelength"corresponding tozthe inclination roof. the,:talole 123: and-have. contact-With the .table erstufajceithroughoutits length. esince-iiteis essen- :tial ifor" ztheipropem moisteningand/:on'ggummlpg of labels;rthatxthe rollers1have fulLcontact-with the upper surface of the label, the roller H is circumferentially grooved for each of the wires l9 to a depth equal to the diameter of the wires, see particularly Figure 6. Thus, the label, being fed from the table 23 between the rollers, will have its gummed side, or side to be gummed exposed in contact to the knurled side of the roller ll unobstruced by the wires IS. The wires l9, after engagement in their several notches, will be held suitably taut throughout their length.

It is highly important, that means be provided to prevent the labels from following the combined pressure and feed roller l4 during the feeding action. Therefore, to assure a proper passage of the label between the rollers, a plurality of wires 21, similar in number and diameter to the wires I9 and in vertical alignment therewith, engage in circumferential grooves 28 of the roller 14 to lie flush with the surface of the roller in use. The wires 2'! extend outwardly from the contacting surface of the roller [4 and are inclined upwardly to pass about cross bars 29, after which they are inclined inwardly toward the roller i and again engage in the grooves 28. The bank of wires 21 with the wires l9 form a cage-like guard in wedge shape for facilitating the entry of the label between the rollers and a similar guard upon the discharge side to prevent the moistened or gummed label adhering to and following the roller I4, thus causing the label to pass freely upon the supporting wires 19. One bar 29 is grooved at 30 for the reception of a squeegee 3|, engaging the side of the roller M for its entire width. The squeegee is inclined transversely to more readily conduct collected water or adhesive from the roller to be directed to the reservoir HI. As clearly shown, the roller II is partially submerged in the fluid of the reservoir and as the roller l l revolves, fluid is picked up by the knurled surface to be brought into contact with the underside of the label. While the roller II has been shown as being knurled, it will be obvious that a plain surface roller may be em- .ployed and will function to a high degree of success.

In the use of the device, water having been introduced into the reservoir to the proper level and assuming that pre-gummed labels are to be moistened, a label is placed upon the table 23 with the gummed surface down. The crank is then rotated in a clock-wise direction to cause the entire surface of the roller H to be coated I with water, after which the label is shoved to the point of engagement with the rollers. A continued rotation of the crank causes the label to be fed between the rollers H and I4. During its passage over the roller H, Water that has been picked up by the knurled surface is applied to the gummed side of the label and the label passes outwardly upon the wires [9, where it can be easily picked up with the fingers of the operator. The wires 19 are close enough together to prevent the label dropping therebetween, yet far enough apart to permit the insertion of the fingers beneath the label for removal. Any tendency of the label to adhere to and follow the roller I4 is prevented by the wire cage formed by the wires 21. Any water that has collected upon the surface of the roller I4 is removed by the squeegee 3| prior to its contact with the upper side of the label. Thus, the roller I4 at all times presents a relatively dry feed and pressure surface for the label. The operation of the device is identical when employing an adhesive in the reservoir 10 for use on ungummed' labels.

While the machine has been illustrated for use in moistening gummed labels, it may readily be adapted to the moistening of strip gummed paper fed from a roll of such paper suitably mounted at one end of the machine to be fed between the rollers II and M as desired.

It will be seen from the foregoing that a very simple and efiicient form of applicator has been provided for both gummed and ungummed paper labels. The structure is relatively cheap to manufacture, since the base and its associated parts can all be easily cast in a single unit from metal, plastic or other suitable material. The rollers may likewise be cast from plastic or other light inexpensive material, since wear thereon is negligible. All parts can be easily and quickly assembled or disassembled for purposes of cleaning or replacement. The device will quickly and completely apply an even coat of moisture over the entire surface of the label by a single passage of the label between the rollers, leaving no bubbles or dry spots so commonly encountered by the usual hand applicators now in use and presents the label ready for application without in any way soiling the printed side.

It is to be understood, that the invention.is not limited to the precise arrangement shown, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

i. A label moistening machine of the character described comprising a base having vertically arranged integral end plates, a fluid reservoir formed on the base intermediate its ends, the reservoir defined by transverse upstanding walls and vertically arranged parallel side walls, a fluid pick-up roller journalled transversely of the machine with its lower side extending into the reservoir, a shaft for the rotatable support of the roller, the side walls provided with journal openings for the reception of the shaft, a gear fixed upon the end of the shaft outwardly of the side wall, the roller being knurled entirely over its cylindrical surface and grooved circumferentially, with the grooves being equidistantly spaced, one end plate provided with an integral feed table projecting inwardly toward the upper surface of the roller at an incline, a plurality of parallel wires extending from end to end of the machine and angularly disposed at an angle corresponding to the angle of the table andin parallel contact with the surface of the table, means for removably securing the terminal ends of the wires for maintaining the wires taut, the said wires being spaced corresponding to the spacing of the grooves of the roller and normally lying in the grooves, the grooves having a depth corresponding to the diameter of the wires whereby the wires are flush with the upper surface of the roller, a combined pressure and feed roller superimposed above and in parallel contacting relation to the pick-up roller, the cylindrical surface of the feed roller being circumferentially grooved in a manner identical with the pick-up roller in depth and spacing, with the grooves aligned, a shaft for the rotatable support of the feed roller, the side plates being slotted for the reception of the shaft, a pair of bars supported by the side plates in parallel relation to the feed roller, with the bars being arranged upon opposite sides of the feed roller and belowiithe axis thereof, a plurality of wires trained about the bars and the feed roller, with the last named'wires being relatively taut and engaging in the grooves of the feed roller at top and bottom thereof, the last named wires providing a wedge shaped guard for the feeding of labels to the rollers and a wedge shaped guard upon the opposite side of the rollers and a squeegee carried by one of the bars and engaging the side of the feed roller and gear means carried by the shaft of the feed roller outwardly of the side plates for driving engagement with the first named gear and a crank for rotating the feed roller shaft.

2. A label moistening machine that comprises a rigid flat base having upstanding end plates and upstanding parallel side plates, the side plates being arranged substantially intermediate the ends of the base, integral transverse and upstanding walls formed on the base and connecting the side plates, the walls and side plates forming a fluid reservoir, one end plate provided with an integral inwardly extending and downwardly inclined feed table, with the inner end of the table partially overlying the reservoir, a fluid pick-up roller arranged transversely of the machine and centrally disposed with respect to the reservoir, a shaft for the rotatable support of the roller journalled in the side plates with one end of the shaft extended for the reception of a driven gear, the said roller having one longitudinal side extended into the reservoir, the entire cylindrical surface of the roller being knurled and circumferentially grooved at equidistantly spaced points over its surface, a plurality of feed and support wires extending for the full length of the machine and having their opposite terminal ends detachably connected to the end plates for maintaining the wires in taut position, the Wires being parallel and spaced in accordance with the spacing of the grooves of the roller and normally recessed in the grooves to be flush with the uppermost surface of the roller, the wires being inclined at an angle identical with the angle of the table and in full contact with the table for its full length, a combined pressure and feed roller identical in size to the pick-up roller superimposed over the pick-up roller in parallel contacting relation for its full length, a shaft for the rotatable support of the feed roller journalled in vertical parallel slots formed in the side plate, the feed roller being freely verti- 6 cally moveable in the slots for gravity engagement with the pick-up roller, the cylindrical surface of the feed roller being smooth and provided with equidistantly spaced circumferential grooves corresponding in spacing and depth to the grooves of the pick-up roller and aligned therewith, a parallel bar arranged outwardly of the sides of the feed roller and below the center line of the roller, a plurality of Wires trained over the roller and bars with the wires having a seating in the grooves of the feed roller over its upper portion and over its point of contact with the pick-up roller, the seating of the wires in the grooves of the rollers permitting of a full and uninterrupted contact of the rollers for their entire length, a squeegee carried by one of the bars for the full length of the feed roller, the bars being fixed in the side plates, the first and second named group of wires being in longitudinal alignment, the training of the second named wires about the feed roller and the bars providing a wedge shaped feed opening for directing the labels between the rollers, while the training of the second named wires about the bar on the opposite side of the feed roller provides a wedge shaped guard against the label adhering to the feed roller upon the discharge side, the said first named Wires serving to support the label after being discharged from the rollers, a drive gear carried by the shaft of the feed roller tobe meshed with the gear of the pick-up roller and a crank for driving the shaft of the feed roller.

AUSTIN I. VOORI-IIES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 198,642 MacBrair Dec. 25, 1377 233,787 McCaw et al Oct. 26, 1880 548,734 Adamson Oct. 29, 1895 581,056 Bodkin Apr. 20, 1397 693,832 Butterfield et al. Feb. 25, 1902 747,723 Jones et al. Dec. 22, 1963 959,986 Zapf May 31, 1910 1,045,222 Twomley NOV. 26, 1912 

